Do I hear two
.
Sorry John..... I meant "play" with...... and you are certainly playing there..... at least with the handgun.....
Hunting Grizzly with the 45-70
- Thread starter Weatherby2
- Start date
Sorry John..... I meant "play" with...... and you are certainly playing there..... at least with the handgun.....
I am west of the red river I think....... and a paper clip and an elastic is deadly here ...... just ask my grade 5 teacher ....
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Excluding a couple of replica single shots, the first 45-70 I picked up purposefully for hunting, was a Marlin 1895GS, and I've posted some of this previously. Nice rifle but with the power of the loads the Marlin is capable of handling and especially when using heavy bullets,
I found the recoil effects 'can' be a little hard on fingers at times. The straight stock design doesn't help with that issue. I ended up giving the GS to my Son who lives in the B.C. central interior. 
To replace it, I ended up acquiring a 1895GBL, which I do like better.
As luck would have it,
along with the GBL, a Magnum Research BFR was also available. 
Couldn't resist temptation. I 'needed' it .
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
No biggie, seein' that terminology tends to differ from zone to zone. I should've maybe said "Shockemus Maximus" vs Smashthruem Completicus". I'm in the latter camp on that one. I took my 1st. couple of blackies with 45-70 & a moose along the way and never had issue with the rounds performance using linotype 405 gr. cast at 1300 fps. Shoulder shots on all inside 100 yds. and they were anchored well. A finishing shot at the "basis cranii" was done to finish the job whether they needed it or not.
I wouldn't feel disadvantaged with a 45-70 in a hammer gun on grizzly when I set the bastard up for the shot.
The shockers & thumpers will always be debating over guns & loads but that's human nature of course.
All I know is that I hunt grizzly with whatever CF rifle is sighted in when I want to go........preferably 30 cal or bigger. I never worry one little twit about what he may do, I only worry about having enough gun to take him at 3 or 400 mtrs if that's the only shot given on a monster. A lot of the time this is how it happens, catch him on an open hillside at 350-400 mtrs with no way to get closer, so it's either take the shot on possibly the bear of a life time or let him walk. This is why I normally hunt grizzly with a 340 Wby or my 9.3X300 WM or a 375 H&H or even my 300 Wby with 200 gn bullets. I'm hunting him not the other way round and he best look out for me......not the other way round.
If and when I wade into the willows after a coastal bear (hopefully this fall) I shall be carrying my 378 Wby because I know I may have to make a 400 mtr shot for the big boy I want, I also know that at 15 mtrs in the thick sh!t, I have enough gun to keep my butt out of the sling. I know even coastals are not wearing Kevlar, but I want him dead right where he stands, and I'm more than certain the 378 will do this with great aplomb. I will likely take a back up rifle if I hit and need to track, and this will be my double 470 NE. If I'm on a blood trail through the thick sh!t on the coast, I want a rifle and cartridge capable of ending the fight right here and right now...........I have that kid of confidence and faith in my double 470 NE. The last thing I want is to have 1000 lb bear jump up in the alders and devils club 20 ft in front of my face and have a deer rifle in my hands. Y'all can keep your 308s and 45-70s I have a 470 NE and will feel quite comfortable using it on a coastal bear in an up close and personal wounded scenario.
If and when I wade into the willows after a coastal bear (hopefully this fall) I shall be carrying my 378 Wby because I know I may have to make a 400 mtr shot for the big boy I want, I also know that at 15 mtrs in the thick sh!t, I have enough gun to keep my butt out of the sling. I know even coastals are not wearing Kevlar, but I want him dead right where he stands, and I'm more than certain the 378 will do this with great aplomb. I will likely take a back up rifle if I hit and need to track, and this will be my double 470 NE. If I'm on a blood trail through the thick sh!t on the coast, I want a rifle and cartridge capable of ending the fight right here and right now...........I have that kid of confidence and faith in my double 470 NE. The last thing I want is to have 1000 lb bear jump up in the alders and devils club 20 ft in front of my face and have a deer rifle in my hands. Y'all can keep your 308s and 45-70s I have a 470 NE and will feel quite comfortable using it on a coastal bear in an up close and personal wounded scenario.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Your Merkel would be right at home on the coast Douglas here's a well shared pic of mine (.375 H&H) working the coast, give me a jingle when planning that coastal bear.
The Merkel's muzzles were eight yards from this bear before it was shot at one point, it sauntered off and the client killed it at a more comfortable range.
The Merkel's muzzles were eight yards from this bear before it was shot at one point, it sauntered off and the client killed it at a more comfortable range.
One job I had up in Stuwart BC wen I was Younger was babysitting a geologist how was petrified of Grizlys
On day well taking samples a Young grizzly bear went by us About 200 +yards
he was so scared and insisted I shot the bear I wand up laughing at him it was funny I had a old defender shotgun and the bear was just passing by us minding his own business looking for marmots
This thread is realy making me want to go bear hunting Haahaa
Off topic but bring up sum good memories working around the glaciers in northern BC
This thread like loggers debating which chainsaw is better husky or stihl personally I like them both husky for bucking and stihl for bush work
On day well taking samples a Young grizzly bear went by us About 200 +yards
he was so scared and insisted I shot the bear I wand up laughing at him it was funny I had a old defender shotgun and the bear was just passing by us minding his own business looking for marmots
This thread is realy making me want to go bear hunting Haahaa
Off topic but bring up sum good memories working around the glaciers in northern BC
This thread like loggers debating which chainsaw is better husky or stihl personally I like them both husky for bucking and stihl for bush work
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Bought my first 45-70 appr 20 years ago a T/C Custom Shop 22" stainless T/C Contender carbine barrel.
16 years ago I started prospecting solo full time couldn't get appropriate slugs locally for my 18.5" barreled Rem 870 12 gauge bought a Marlin 1895GS.
Finally started figuring out Canada's gun laws = that I could install shorter than 18.5" barrel on non-restricted firearms if they were manufactured to restricted lengths shorter than 18.5" if the OAL was greater than 26" so purchased 14" stainless T/C Super 14 45-70, MGM 45 Colt and SSK Ind 375JDJ barrels use these small light cannons for summer hiking trips, still hunting thick bush also have my Kawi KLX250s dual sport set up to have them mounted across my handlebars.
Contender frames can't handle the pressures of the lever action rifles so wanting to use my far higher pressure Marlin loads in a short single action rifle I purchased a 24" stainless T/C Encore barrel for my T/C Prohunter when I get to it I'm getting the barrel shortened to 18.5" or sell it and purchase a 15" - 16" restricted length barrel.
So there you go its actually one 45-70 rifle and three barrels.
But as a gun nut I'm surprised that you question how many firearms a fellow has...
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
Another option for a stowable 45-70 is the Handi-Rifle. I got the throat lengthened in mine and it can easily handle Marlin loads, and have taken Elk with it. A rifle I like to take when I'm out hunting in the boonies on my Suzuki DR200 because it fits in my backpack.
The gunnut in me sees 4 rifles in the same chambering as 3 missed opportunities to load for 3 new cartridges.....
The problem is though SB, there are so many wonderful and different platforms out there and only so many cartridges to chamber them in...........That's why I have 5 or 6 or 7 X 243s. I just love full stocked short action rifles.......so 3 of my 243s just happen to be so assembled.....Mod 7 MS Custom shop, Ruger RSI and a BSA Stutzen.........then there was the Sako/Browning Safari I just couldn't turn down....it was so pretty. My old faithful Rem 700 BDL, which I have had for years.........and a couple more I don't recall right now.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My bad habit is having to own two of anything I use a lot for spares, unless it's too valuable. I just bought two Classic Stainless M70s, if one ever breaks the other goes into service. If it breaks, see what can be swapped between the two to make a working gun. Flawed logic as it's not like the M70s are ever going to quit.
I agree..... but, while I am not poor by any means, I can't afford to own it all and do it all..... So I need to be careful in trying to maximize my over all experience, own a collection I can be happy with, try different platforms and different cartridges while most importantly, getting new hunting experiences.....
I own Ruger m77 variants in .22lr, .223, .243, .257 roberts, 7-08, .308, .300 wm, .350 rm and .375 H&H...... of those rifles, one is a full stock, 5 are all-weather hunters, 3 display gorgeous wood, two are scout style, one is a compact etc etc.... I call my meagre collection "Ruger salad"......
IMOP, there is nothing on the planet I can't hunt with my cartridge selection, I have a diverse collection I enjoy and more money in my pocket to do something special with that collection......
You have some great experiences and a wonderful collection Douglas...... and I won't equal you on either front and that's fine with me.... I am more than happy to enjoy a cold beverage and read / listen to the stories guys like you can tell..... and use them as inspiration to see what adventures I can open up for myself.....
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rifles breed in the safe during winter?
Absolutely...........left my 22-250 sitting too close to my 243 in the dark for about a month one winter a few years back. Then when I checked on them later, low and behold the was a sweet little 22 Hornet right there in between them..........
